Hanukkah with Kids Celebrating the Festival of Lights together with crafts, food and fun

Hanukkah with Kids Celebrating the Festival of Lights together with crafts, food and fun

This year, Hanukkah begins on Saturday, December 8, and ends Sunday, December 16. From music and songs to games and DIY crafts, here are some special ways to mark those eight days with your littlest loved ones. (Get coupons for all your crafting needs at stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann.)

Using hurricane glasses wrapped with tissue paper, blogger Sara came up with a lovely way to light up her home. What’s nice is that the imperfections of hand cutting the paper actually make the whole thing look even cooler and craftier.

You totally have what you need on hand to make these sweet little dreidel dolls (supplies are a brown paper bag, scissors, glue and assorted art supplies). The message behind Sarah’s blog, Bringing Chesed Home, is lovely, too: “Finding ways as an individual, and as a mom, to make Chesed (loving kindness) a part of my life, and my children’s lives, every day.” Nice!

Make this jar with your kids to collect funds to give to the needy. According to Liz at North Texas Kids, “The origin of the Tzedakah Box can be traced back thousands of years ago to the Old Testament, which relates how the Temple in Jerusalem collected donations so as to repair the structure of the Temple. These donations were placed in a chest whose top had a hole cut in the top.”

Entertainment

Although Hanukkah marks a serious event in Jewish history, current-day celebrations are generally fun and festive. So kick up the jams with The LeeVees Hanukkah Rocks CD ($10.07), available at Amazon, full of catchy songs like “How Do You Spell Channukkahh?” and “Jewish Girls (At the Matzoh Ball).” (Shop with Amazon coupons.)

People often eat fried foods during the holiday to signify the miracle of the Hanukkah oil burning long enough to keep the Temple lit for eight days. (Read more of the history here.) What does that means for us? Potato pancakes (latkes) and fried doughnuts. Yes! Epicurious has two nice Hanukkah party menu ideas here, or head over to Smitten Kitchen for a yummy latke recipe roundup.